Locating the contact db file in WM 6.1 (contacts, calendar, phone all broken)

[spectrrr]

My problem is very similar to the one described here, However I don't want to fix it, I just want to TRY and retrieve my contacts!!!!


I am looking for the contact data files in WM 6.1 (in other words, the outlook data files that are probably hidden).

Backstory: The resident idiot here (ME) neglected to sync his phone and back things up for, oh, about 3 months. (yes, you know what comes next, and I fully deserve it!).

The phone has now stopped working... Specifically, the Phone application, contacts application, and calendar application. The rest of WM is working fine, except that there is something causing it to run sluggish. AND the phone will not sync. It will connect, but it refuses to sync. Nothing was done to cause this failure, other than waking up one morning.

SOMETHING is corrupted, but I don't think its the actual data file (logic for that is below), SO before I hit the hard reset.... I thought I might try to back it up manually..... what do I have to lose?

A few more specifics:
1. Samsung i770 running WM 6.1 (but I think more of a WM specific issue than a i770 issue). Activesync 4.5 will connect, but it will not sync contacts.
2. When the phone booted for the first 20 or so times after the problem appeared, an error message would across the screen as soon as the desktop was loaded, but far too fast to make out any of the words.
3. Trying to load contacts, calendar, or the phone application produces absolutely no result. No error message, to hung process, nothing.
4. The messaging application works fine, BUT any attempt to load a contact from within fails. Again, no error message, just... nothing happens, it's like you never clicked it....
5. The radio antenna in the top bar says that it has no service.
6. NOW the error message is no longer flashing by the screen when you boot the phone, but all other symptoms remain.
7. Despite the fact that the radio icon and status indicator claims there is no signal, I can send and receive text messages (I just have to enter the number manually).
8. Once, very recently, without doing anything, an error message appeared and STAYED on the screen. Shape of the text looks about right for the message that previously has been flashing by on the screen, I think they are one in the same.
"Shortcut Target"
"error opening the shortcut or locating the target filename."

ANY THOUGHTS? Primarily I'm looking for the contacts data file (I don't care about the calendar, but its probably in the same spot) to TRY back it up before I hard reset the phone.... BUT if anyone has any ideas about a cause or temporary fix to the problems, I'm all ears!!!!!!

[johncmolyneux]

I'd highly recommend trying Microsoft MyPhone, just to see if that can access your contacts. It may be that the contacts DB itself is knackered, in which case you obviously can't get anything back.

Worth a try

http://myphone.microsoft.com/

Good luck!

[spectrrr]

Originally Posted by johncmolyneux I'd highly recommend trying Microsoft MyPhone, just to see if that can access your contacts. It may be that the contacts DB itself is knackered, in which case you obviously can't get anything back. Worth a try http://myphone.microsoft.com/ Good luck!

Indeed it was worth a try. Connected via Wifi to install (can't use data plan, that requires "dialing" an internet connection, which must use the phone app).

Synced documents, txt messages, photos, and then said "Synchonization Successful". WOOHOO! all done.... OR NOT! checked online, NO contacts information. No Calendar information. Apparently MyPhone takes the stance of "if it won't work, just ignore it and report success".

Thanks, A very good thing to try, but no go

Unfortunately, I can think of a number of different ways that WM could be programed, each pointing to a different culprit for the problem. If it's straight DB access for each program, then the only conclusion is that the DB is knackered. But if there's a some kind of access control program that handles those things, maybe its just the program that's no good (hence the message that it couldn't load the target shortcut when the phone boots up).

Anyone have any ideas where to find the DB itself? I can always try the traditional (and very bad idea) of a file swap.....

[spectrrr]

Looks like this mystery will go unsolved... last chance to figure out where to find the contacts db file is. I'll probably be wiping it tomorrow, can't live without the phone much longer. Thanks for the suggestions so far!

[deedee]

Search for PIMBackup, that will enable you to save all your PIM related stuff and then restore it once you have a working device.

Edit
Forgot to say this doesn't require you to install anything, just save the EXE to your memory card and then use File Manager to run it on the PPC.

[spectrrr]

"Connecting to outlook...."
"Could not connect to Outlook."

Beautiful suggestion, I really thought I had the answer there... Thank you!

Seems to be that poutlook.exe is knackered, but that really would not explain why the Phone (cprog.exe) won't load...

PIM Backup log history is mostly what could be expected:
appointments failed - cant connect to outlook
call logs worked
contacts failed - cant connect to outlook
messages worked - "connected to outlook" (but thats a different db and a different connection app, tmail.exe)
speed dials worked
tasks failed - cant connect to outlook

So it comes down to this: PIM.vol is knackered, OR poutlook.exe is dead, and I'm not sure which. Anyone have WM 6.1 and feel like emailing me a copy of poutlook.exe? (powderkeg500 ~a~t~ gmail ^d0t^ com !)... I'm sure the versions may be a bit different... but *shrug* maybe it will work?.....

Does anyone know if I can simply copy PIM.vol to my computer, reload the device, and then copy PIM.vol back to the phone? If the answer is absolutely yes, then I can simply try that. But if the answer is no... I could be shooting myself in the foot

[deedee]

i think copying PIM.vol off and then back on might work, but i seem to recall it may require Total Commnader to get it back on as it's locked by the OS on startup - deemed a system level file i think.

i remember doing this once myself but can't remember that far back now.

Sorry for not sounding more positive. You might like to look at alol.net.br as they offer a free Exchange acount you access OTA and so your contacts would always be backed up in future.